Derry City go into this one in wretched form having lost six of their last seven games in all competitions, the latest being a humiliating defeat at home to Drogheda United on Monday night in the semi-final of the EA Sports Cup; with Declan Devine threatening to ring the changes for the Friday’s trip to Dublin.
Devine has also demanded a response from his players demanding that they save Derry City’s season with victory on Friday night, stating that the performances of some players was simply unacceptable with Devine saying:
“I’m bitterly disappointed that we didn’t show the appetite and hunger to progress, if players think that semi-finals come about often then they need to take a good hard long look at themselves because that is totally unacceptable. The defending for the three goals just isn’t acceptable and I or my staff will not accept it, yes, we were down bodies but that is no excuse to perform like that”.
The Drogheda defeat came days after a disappointing
home defeat at the hands of Sligo Rovers where Derry will feel they done enough
to win but wastefulness once again in front of goal cost them; despite three
defeats in four league matches City are still only five points off leaders St.
Patrick’s Athletic who travel to Tallaght on Friday night so victory for the
candystripes could see them close the gap with Pats to come at the Brandywell in
three weeks’ time.
The best response that Devine’s players
could give him is to repeat their performance from earlier in season at the
Belfield Bowl when they came away with all three points after scoring six
including a Rory Patterson hat-trick
As for Martin Russell his side go into
this one after a morale boosting 3-1 win over Bohemians at Dalymount Park last
weekend in a bottom of the table clash; after falling behind, goals from Cillian
Morrison, David O’Connor and Dean Clarke moved the students up to 9th
and away from the relegation and play-off places.
Having lost 6-0 to the same opponents in
March the students went to the Brandywell in May and won 4-2 coming from behind
in that one as well; the students will want to repeat their performance of
their visit to Foyleside rather than Derry’s visit to the bowl. Martin Russell
had this to say ahead of the clash:
"We know there is still
plenty of work to be done even though we have secured some good results of
late. I firmly believe that with the talent, work ethic and ambition within the
club we will once again secure our top tier status."
On the injury front UCD
could be without Robbie Benson who is struggling with a knee injury but are definitely
without the suspended James Kavanagh and Mark Langtry who were both dismissed
in their last home game against Shelbourne.
As for Derry City they are without
skipper Kevin Deery & centre back Stewart Greacen who’s previous knee
injuries have flared up again with Barry Molloy expected to captain the side in
Deery’s absence. Ryan McBride is likely to partner Shane McEleney in central
defence after he sat out Monday’s defeat with a back problem, with Ruaidhri
Higgins expected to return in midfield after he too missed Monday’s game with
injury; while the impressive Eoghan Osborne will return having been cup-tied for
Monday’s semi-final.
Friday 9th August: UCD v Derry City, Belfield Bowl, 7:45pm
Referee: Neil Doyle
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